Planning is an excellent exercise. GOOD planning gets your strategic intentions and goals onto a piece of paper (digital or tactile) so that everyone can easily access what you’re aiming for and how you’re going to get there. In my career I’ve worked with many many consultants to companies who’ve deliver wonderful, beautifully bound plans … Read More

You never get a second chance at a first impression. I don’t know who said it first, but that person hit the nail on head. When meeting someone new, take these 7 easy steps to make sure the next time you see that person you’re building NOT recovering from the first impression. 1. Shake hands … Read More

Rule To Live By: Always leave a party when you’re still having fun (and can remember where you are). Don’t be that guest who has one or two or three too many and goes over the line you regret the next day (hangover, the walk of shame, the need to apologize). You’re still having fun … Read More

The first step in setting up yourself for success when starting a new job, going onto a new team or getting promoted or moved into a new role, is to take charge of your own on-boarding. Conversely managers, when bringing a person onto your team in any capacity, the first step to successful integration is … Read More

The role juggle never ends – the key is to know which role you’re in at any one time – mom, boss, wife, friend, counselor, advisor, bystander, cheerleader, advocate – the list goes on. I think we get in trouble when we don’t actively choose what role to be in in the moment. When we … Read More

“Busyness” ≠ Effectiveness I challenge you to go through your day – at work, at school, at church, at a bar, in a book group – and not either say or hear “I’m so busy.” Yeah, everyone’s busy, but most aren’t effective in direct proportion to their busyness. Much like the duck paddling furiously and … Read More

Planning is important — not because anything ever goes to plan, but because (for one thing) it charts out a desired result and the steps you need to take in an ideal world to get there. Good planning should also include several escape hatches if what you think will happen along the way does not … Read More

Deadlines aren’t for you, ever. Because someone else needs what you’re working on to get what they’re working on done. So with that in mind, let’s review: 1.Never EVER set Friday 5pm as the deadline. All that means is that the person you’re sending something to is going to have to stay late or work … Read More

We don’t control much through our day, despite everything we’ve been taught to the contrary. I don’t think I’ve ever started a day with the same to-do list (with items crossed off or not) that I had the night before. I can’t control who will call, or who will need my help, or what the … Read More